Anew

Well, it's official. HippieHusband and I will be moving to TheYummyLargeCity. WOOHOO!!

I've spent a great deal of time interviewing both the potential supervisor, her current and former students and I came to the conclusion that it is a good fit for me. Surprisingly, I found my own advice quite useful. It turns out that writing this blog really helped.

It's another a postdoc, but I feel that the work experience will allow me to either - enter academia with a very cool research program or fuck off out of academia into a fab industry job. The best part is that the new supervisor has had students who end up both in academia and in industry, which means that she is realistic and unprejudiced about the academic future of most graduate students.

I've been a lucky Girlpostdoc for so many reasons - and yes I am including the shitstorm year that I had. First, I've learned so much about how to be a supervisor and what things work, plus I've gained confidence as a scientist, here at SmallUniversity. Despite the ridiculous circumstances (and still ongoing: details in another post) that led HippieHusband to quitting his postdoc, we both will never ever make the mistake of going to place with our eyes closed. Moreoever, I've learned boundaries - what I'm willing to do as a postdoc and what I won't do, despite the fact that it may be commonplace. Just because it's common doesn't mean it's fair or appropriate treatment. I am also taking charge of my career. Though I invite advice, I will never forget that there is a lens through which that advice is given.

Second, I'm lucky because despite having had a brain tumor that required two surgeries, I am alive. It's like I fell from a 20-story building, got up, and walked away with just a broken elbow and some loss in my range of motion. But that "broken elbow" took maybe 3 months of recovery. That sort of think makes you revisit your priorities and recognize that publishing and science are a diversion, but they are not deeply important.

Finally, I'm lucky because although I have had my share of struggle with advisors, I have mentors who support me and care about my career. After my second surgery, GeneralSolutionGuru, my PhD advisor, called me and we had this conversation where she said that she was so glad I was okay and alive, despite the fact that -X+Y. And when I gave Dr.Add'EmUp my letter of resignation, his attitude was different - he was totally cool. I think, while I was away on vacation, he came to a place of acceptance. I did. I've said this before, but Dr.Add'EmUp is one of the good guys. In the midst of a conflict with our advisors, I have forgetten that they are just like me, trying to navigate the world, and sometimes failing.

One interesting thing happened yesterday after I gave Dr.Add'EmUp my notice, GuruofSmallThings stopped by my office. Despite knowing what happened and in our last interaction where it was clear why I was leaving, she wasn't able to acknowledge fully the problems in the department. I'm aware that all departments have issues and problems, but this department has one gigantic puss-filled open sore that bleeds into all the faculties lives. And everyone here pretends that he is not a problem.

Although I'll still be Canadian GirlPostdoc in America, I won't be living small. The best part is that TheYummyLargeCity is a real city with intellectual life, restaurants and culture.

Yeah baby, let the adventure begin.